Along
the line of the canal there are a number of culverts carrying streams
under the canal. One such waterway is Cocklemore Brook and it flows
under the canal through Cocklemore Culvert. The culvert was inspected
in 2010 by a local caving group and visual inspection/photographs
revealed nothing untoward. Unfortunately in Feb 2014 the volume and
speed of the water flowing through this culvert caused part of the
culvert to collapse. The water quickly eroded the clay and before much
could be done a whole section of the canal collapsed and the water in
it drained away. Immediate action took place to protect the public
using the tow path and then the canal was dammed to prevent further
water loss. Cocklemore Culvert became a major engineering job for us
and we couldn’t have imagined just what would be the consequences in
time and money when we had that call to say a small hole had appeared
in the tow path.

It was decided that the
whole culvert would have to be rebuilt, concrete pipe was considered
but the costs and logistics of installation were too great. A massive
excavation job ensued.., dig the clay from theaffected section of
canal, dismantle the culvert, keep the water level low enough for
volunteers to work safely (remember this was a stream that we could not
divert). Tons of silt had to be removed from the culvert intself by
volunteers in waders, using spades, shovels and sometimes gloved hands.

Starting to strip away old bricks, which we reused elsewhere

We completed half the culvert but were running out of money and
decided work had to stop. Trust fundraising director and branch
volunteer Kath Hatton discovered the Yorkshire Building Society
Living Legacy Awards and Dave Maloney organised an effective campaign
usimng Facebook to get the thousands who voted for us.We were granted
£10,000 which enabled us to carry on with the work. In just over 12
months the culvert was completely rebuilt; using three layers of
bricks in a pattern/method devised by trust engineers and branch
volunteers, it was a beautiful job but hopefully it will never see
the sight of day again!

50% complete :)

Last brick was laid on 3rd May 2015 by Lee Hathway of the Yorkshire Building society.

We plan an interpretation board to celebrate the work done by Ray, Basil and the team.

The most important thing, when restoring a canal,
is to have a good time. The work you are offering would not
attract candidates if you paid them ten pounds an hour; and you
have nothing.

But first find your canal. Often the only
visible remain is the boundary hedge. To the untrained eye it
is merely the side of a field. But a slight dip fifteen yards
out, and a little rise three yards before the hedge confirm this
was once a canal, now filled and grassed over. Much better than
this are two canal hedges grown together in a formidable barrier
of thorn, blackberry and wild rose. You have found your canal;
now all you need is an owner with a liking for eccentrics, even
perhaps a tolerance for the occasional lunatic.

Early morning, the light still grey, your team
assembles, doubts never far from the surface. Give them a
bonfire. Concentrate on the fire. Small sticks, dry sticks, a
spiral of smoke, more dry sticks, slightly bigger sticks; an
hour passes and you have something to consume whole branches.
The fire demands more; the saws saw, the slashers slash. The
fire grows, flames and smoke leap to the sky. Before you notice
the morning has gone and a surprising area has been cleared. A
dozen Sundays and you will be quite impressed with your own
piece of canal.

The cleared canal needs digging out, funds must
be raised; raffles and quizzes, sponsored walks and boat rallies
on nearby rivers. Administration and negotiation; planning
permission and planning protection; engineering skills and
financial care are brought together. The once isolated group
clearing a few hundred yards of canal has spawned other groups.
One restored length becomes a dozen.

The Local Authority sits up. These people have
stamina. Dammit, some are professional. Two or three even
understand the planning process.

Around the polished table heads are bowed, paper
piled neatly. A neighbouring canal has won the lottery, twenty
five million pounds. Could we get some of that? You bet we
could. Twenty years after that first bonfire the Authorities
are committed. Ten more years pass and the major planning
issues are resolved, land is purchased and the big contracts are
let.

Machines roar, light dances on the underside of
new bridges and locks gleam in the sun.

Can the volunteer rest at last? Oh, but the
grass needs trimming here and the nettles threaten the cycle
path there. Benches would be nice for old legs and maybe the
political situation is not quite secure. More members will
demonstrate the demand, and nothing, you know, quite matches the
clearing gangs giving up their weekends in rain and wind.